Polio Place

Brief Bio: Augusta Strongman Alba grew up on a farm in Highland, New York, and was one of five siblings. She graduated from Cornell University Medical School in New York in 1951, one of only eight women in a class of 100. After taking two years leave of absence for family responsibilities, she became an intern at Brooklyn Hospital, followed by two years at the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in New York, with residencies in both Neurology and Psychiatry. In 1957, she completed her fellowship in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at New York University Medical School.

From 1957 through 1997, Dr. Alba practiced medicine at the Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility. In the early days she was instrumental in establishing the Goldwater Memorial Hospital National Foundation for Poliomyelitis Regional Respiratory Center, which closed following the successful eradication of polio in America. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, she was the premier consultant on the care of post-polio syndrome for people with significant respiratory issues.

Her 53-year career is a testament to her dedication to polio patients. She witnessed the replacement of the iron lung - once the most common way polio survivors with severely compromised respiratory systems were kept alive - with a range of smaller, more portable devises that are used noninvasively.

She held numerous positions and titles there, from clinical instructor to Director of Respiratory Rehabilitation Center. She is affiliated with New York University Medical Center/Rush Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Long Island University and the New York University College of Dentistry. She was appointed to the Panel of Physicians for the New Jersey Crippled Children’s Commission, Independent Living for the Handicapped in Brooklyn, New York, and Wheelchair Charities, Inc.

Her memberships include the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Her numerous awards include Humanitarian of the Year Award from Concepts of Independence, Inc.; award of Appreciation from The Rehabilitation Medicine Association of the Republic of China and from the New York City Independent Living Center; Woman of the Year of the Woman’s Advisory Committee, Health and Hospital Corporation; and the Humanitarian Award from the Smithtown Parkinson Therapy Center of Smithtown, Long Island.

Dr. Alba always sought to educate both her colleagues and polio survivors about the importance of appropriate equipment and personal assistance. In addition to co-authoring many seminal medical articles on the respiratory topic, her lectures and publications reflect a life-long body of work focused on assisting the respiratory-disabled patient to live the most independent life possible.

Post-Polio Health International honored Augusta “Gussie” Alba, MD, along with Jacquelin Perry, MD, at its 8th (2000) International Post-Polio and Independent Living Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri, for their years of freely giving medical and practical advice to survivors of polio.

In 1944, Dr. Alba married Louis Alba whose professions included chemical engineering, chiropractic practices, and a radiology business. He was interested in airplanes and built his own. The couple has 8 children. Norma, their fifth child, once said, “We all knew Mom was the scholastic one. Dad had common sense. We learned early on not to encourage her to cook.”

Description of Publications: See “Major Articles” tab.

Location of Publications: See NYU Health Sciences Library.
 
GLOSSARY
CHEST SHELL - a fiberglass shell fitted across the chest. To assist inhalation, negative pressure is created outside the chest wall when air is sucked from the shell through tubing attached to a ventilator.

GPB - glossopharyngeal breathing or "frog breathing" is a method of obtaining more air by gulping air into the lungs using the tongue and throat muscles.

INTERMITTENT POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION (IPPV) - air is delivered into the lungs at a controlled amount of pressure or volume, either via mouth (with lip seal or mouthpiece to suck air from), via nose (with nasal or face mask), or via tracheostomy.

LIP SEAL - mouthpiece strapped to head to prevent air from leaking from the mouth.

PNEUMOBELT - a corset-type affair worn around the abdomen to assist expiration. It intermittently inflates, compressing the abdomen, and forcing air out of the lungs. Effective only when sitting or standing.

PONCHO - fabric garment, similar to body wrap, attached by tubing to ventilator. Same negative pressure principle as chest shell. Effective only in supine position.

VITAL CAPACITY - the maximum amount of air that can be exhaled after taking a deep breath.

November 2012/Carol K. Elliott & Joan L. Headley/Post-Polio Health International